My impression was that it was a full conversion. Who knows. I have degrees
from 3 universities, but could never develop a loyalty except for BYU. I
imagine the Samuelson's had a hard time making the change.

G L W8SPRINGVILLE, UT

March 15, 2014 7:06 p.m.

Pops, a double negative does not make a positive. That's an old (English
Teacher's) wives' tale.One observation that hasn't been
emphasized in all this fan fol-der-rol is that many of us have split loyalties:
cheer for both teams until they play each other; then we pick sides. I'm in
that profile. But I also agree with an earlier post that pointed out
there's more to life than sports. Like paychecks, yes--but also the value
that comes from a solid university education, and both schools excel at that.
That's really where it counts.

PopsNORTH SALT LAKE, UT

March 12, 2014 7:17 p.m.

"I'm a Salt Lake(county) Mormon and I do not root for BYU in hardly any
games."

I see that a double negative was used in that sentence. A
more clear phrasing would have been, "I'm a Salt Lake (county) Mormon
and I root for BYU in almost all games."

Good for you!
That's how a rivalry ought to work.

CA. readerRocklin, CA

March 12, 2014 6:49 p.m.

Once again ladies and gentlemen, who founded the University of Utah?
That's right, Brigham Young. Anyone associated with U of U, past or
present, is really just another BYU student or graduate.

Silliness
aside, what do both schools do in their power areas? They turn out
well-prepared graduates, many of whom have distinguished themselves in life.

One interesting stat to research: how many UU/BYU grads have earned
graduate degrees at the other school?

Chris BSalt Lake City, UT

March 12, 2014 3:27 p.m.

Mark,

If we use your logic, their loyalty to Utah is only as deep as
the paycheck and their heart is really in Provo

Wrong!

I'm not suggesting Samuelson would return to be a Ute just because he
used to be, but because Utah is BETTER.

Want to try again?

John Pack Lambert of MichiganYpsilanti, MI

March 12, 2014 11:59 a.m.

President Samuelson was a greater leader at BYU. Under his leadership the level
of scholarship has increased, the amount of under graduate involvement in
research (a program initiated under President Bateman) has increased, the
purpose and function of university-approved housing has become clearer, and many
other things have improved.

The university ended having a separate
College of Health and Human Performance, although the programs there were
retained and moved to 4 different colleges. The new alignment makes more sense.
There were several other reforms, that on the whole I believe have made the
university a better place.

Mark3054Lehi, UT

March 12, 2014 9:56 a.m.

Thanks to President Samuelson for 11 years of great service. I wish you well in
your retirement no matter where your loyalties take you. Good luck to President
Worthen.

@Chris B

And I am sure that Kyle Whittingham and
the other former BYU players on the Utah coaching staff are still members of the
Cougar Club anxiously waiting to retire so they can return to BYU. If we use
your logic, their loyalty to Utah is only as deep as the paycheck and their
heart is really in Provo.

CatsSomewhere in Time, UT

March 12, 2014 9:45 a.m.

I attended both schools. There is no comparison. The caliber of individual, on
the average, is so much higher at BYU it's no contest.

President Samuelson came to BYU, had a wonderful experience, did a wonderful
job and will always love BYU and by loved by BYU. There's no question
about that.

rawlshea1salt lake city, UT

March 11, 2014 8:30 p.m.

Cec Samuelson is simply the best. Probably the only group to be upset about
President Samuelson moving to BYU were the employees of Intermountain Health
Care where Scott Parker (another genius of management) had expected Cec to
succeed him until the Church gave him his new calling. Incredible work from
which the State, the Region and the Nation benefited.

Old But Not StupidMoorpark, CA

March 11, 2014 7:21 p.m.

Ken (and any other BYU "haters") here is a reason to root for BYU.

Eleven years ago this past December my daughter, one of over 30,000 BYU
students, was returning home for Christmas. Her driver had a bad accident in
the snow in central Utah. They air-lifted her to LDS Hospital in SLC where she
should not have survived. In the first 10 days following the accident she
received personal visits from the Dean of Students and the then President of BYU
and his wife.

Now can you name any other college or university in
the country where the Dean and the President would bother to drive 50 miles in
bad weather to show that type of love and support for ONE of their students?

No, I can't either. From that day on I determined that only
BYU would ever receive my contributions.

KaladinGreeley, CO

March 11, 2014 5:49 p.m.

President Samuelson was the president for most of my time at BYU. He was a
president we students felt connected to even if we didn't know him
personally. That is difficult to do. I am dyed in the wool true blue through and
through but his affiliation with the U never bothered me nor does anyone
else's. Of course I'm always going to root for the Y over the U, but
that ends it for me. We should all be a little more purple (which was easier
when the Jazz wore purple).

oldcougarOrem, UT

March 11, 2014 5:32 p.m.

Cecil Samuelson...a wonderful leader for BYU and a wonderful example of class!
He will be missed. All the best to President Worthen!

EliotGenola, UT

March 11, 2014 5:04 p.m.

"Whoosh, Cecil" had a wonderful, aliterative sound to it that seemed to
flow naturally from the student section. "Whoosh, Kevin" just
doesn't have the same ring to it. Perhaps, given the free throw fortunes
of the current team, it ought to be "Clang, Kevin"?

Old But Not StupidMoorpark, CA

March 11, 2014 4:54 p.m.

KenSandy, UT

"@RBN, I'm a Salt Lake(county) Mormon and
I do not root for BYU in hardly any games. If you are and you do, I believe you
are in the minority. .... Perhaps the day will come when I consider myself a BYU
supporter most weeks, but I believe a good portion of Salt Lake Mormons want BYU
to lose as much as possible."

Can you please explain your twisted
statement: "...I believe a good portion of Salt Lake Mormons want BYU to
lose as much as possible."

I'm sickened by the thought that
any Utah resident adult would root against their rival when that rival is not in
the current contest. I mean I even root for the Trojans when their victories do
not impact my Bruins.

You may want to re-think your position.

SamwiseSalt Lake City, UT

March 11, 2014 4:38 p.m.

President Samuelson was a great President for BYU. He was the President for all
my years there. I seem to remember in a devotional or forum that he said
something along the lines of having converted to being a BYU fan (although I am
not sure if this is just my mind making something up or not), so I am not so
sure about him becoming primarily a Ute again, although I am sure he has always
cheered for the Utes when they were not playing BYU throughout his tenure as BYU
President. If he does become a Ute again, he will be one awesome Ute that most
of the rest of the Utes (as well as many Cougars) could learn a lot from as far
as being civil and respectful of the other team and University. He will be
missed. Whoosh Cecil!

amagnetickAV, CA

March 11, 2014 4:26 p.m.

Amazing, you can take a piece about BYU getting a new President and it turns
into comments about a rivalry. Seriously, some of you people need to figure out
what is really important in life. I'll give you a hint, it isn't
sports.

Johnny TriumphAmerican Fork, UT

March 11, 2014 3:40 p.m.

Good for him to finally be able to retire! BYU is a better place the past 11
years.

KenSandy, UT

March 11, 2014 3:25 p.m.

@RBN, I'm a Salt Lake(county) Mormon and I do not root for BYU in hardly
any games. If you are and you do, I believe you are in the minority. The
rivalry is changing and will continue to change as Utah develops rivalries in
our new conference and byu does with whoever will play them. Perhaps the day
will come when I consider myself a BYU supporter most weeks, but I believe a
good portion of Salt Lake Mormons want BYU to lose as much as possible.
Congratulations to Samuelson and he deserves a nice break.

RBNSalt Lake City, UT

March 11, 2014 2:53 p.m.

Chris,

I don't think President Samuelson ever left the Crimson
Club. I suspect that he is like a lot of Salt Lake Mormons. He's a Utah
fan, but roots for BYU in all but rivalry games. For a few years he had to
suspend his better judgment during those rivalry games due to his employment or
calling. I think he learned long ago that there is no need to be snarky in the
rivalry.

GildasLOGAN, UT

March 11, 2014 2:26 p.m.

Help! I don't know anything fundamental about either of these two men,even after reading the article and comments. I feel like I do whenI am
asked to participate in a credit union election, or after reading a
brochure on a political candidate. It sounds generallygood but what do I
really know?

I get that they are, or else were, both general
authorities, that the old BYU presidentdid "immeasurable good". I
don't doubt it but what good exactly? Please someone tell me
something else, a lot of things, that is very specific, not just improved"rapport" etc.

souptwinsLindon, UT

March 11, 2014 2:11 p.m.

Nevada Coug-- "Swoosh Kevin" of course!

Lew ScannonProvo, UT

March 11, 2014 1:18 p.m.

Thanks to President Samuelson. Congrats to President Worthen. As for Samuelson
rejoining the Crimson Club, that may not be possible. He's got too much
blue in him now, which makes him, um, purple. Does that mean he'll now be
cheering for Weber?

michaelandersen88Provo, UT

March 11, 2014 1:17 p.m.

@Chris B I am sure he will love being back with the U, but I am sure he has a
place in his heart for BYU too.

I know that he has a place in our
hearts.

Thanks for sharing him with us for a while.

Fifth AngelOrem, UT

March 11, 2014 1:14 p.m.

President Worthen is a General Authority. He is an Area Authority.

chopperdanClovis, NM

March 11, 2014 1:10 p.m.

A lawyer! yahooo!

Chris BSalt Lake City, UT

March 11, 2014 12:52 p.m.

RBN - Cecil is probably pumped to be re-joining the Crimson Club. This time, Pac
12 style. Welcome back Cecil. You'll love it.

NevadaCougOverton, NV

March 11, 2014 12:41 p.m.

Now what will the ROC say after made free throws?

VanceoneProvo, UT

March 11, 2014 12:36 p.m.

Heh. My old contracts prof as president of BYU? Nice. I doubt he remembers me
at all though.

Interesting that they didn't pick a general
authority though. President Bateman and also President Samuelson were both
GA's before. Dean Worthen wasn't.

RBNSalt Lake City, UT

March 11, 2014 12:32 p.m.

It will be good to have President Samuelson back in red.

Allen C ChristensenAmerican Fork, UT

March 11, 2014 12:28 p.m.

Cecil O. Samuelson has been a marvelous university leader. His ability to
direct the university and build individuals in the process has been nothing
short of remarkable. Those who have been acquainted with university
administrative processes have treasured his leadership and the dignity with
which he and Sister Samuelson have built rapport with the students, staff, and
faculty and the community at large. I thought that toady's dignified and
sustained standing ovation was an accurate reflection of just how beloved
President and Sister Samuelson have become to Brigham Young University. His
influence and her influence for that which is noble, praiseworthy and of good
report will be felt for a long time to come. As a BYU alumnus, I'm deeply
grateful to them for all they have done for BYU. Many, many thanks!